£15m Tampon Tax Fund reopens to charities

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said charities across the nation can apply for grants to fund projects that directly benefit disadvantaged women and girls, tackle violence and support their mental health and wellbeing. 

The Tampon Tax Fund comes entirely from VAT receipts on women’s sanitary products. It was first announced in the 2015 Spending Review by then Chancellor George Osborne, who committed £15m annually for women and girls' charities through VAT on women's sanitary products for a five-year period.

The government said that while the UK was a member of the European Union, VAT on these products could not fall below five per cent. However Chancellor Rishi Sunak has now confirmed that the tax will end in January 2021, following Britain’s withdrawal from the EU.

Larger charities and foundations will be able to apply for grants of £1m or more from the fund. Grants will then be distributed through their networks to support women and girls and to organisations that offer small and medium-sized onward grants. Applicants are also able to use part of their grant funding to improve organisational sustainability.

Minister for Civil Society, Baroness Barran, said: "I am delighted that over the life of the Tampon Tax Fund we have been able to provide £62m worth of grants to more than 70 charities working to help disadvantaged women and girls.

“I urge charities to bid for this funding that will not only continue to support women most in need, but help organisations to become more sustainable so they can plan for the future."





Organisations must be able to deliver impact in their chosen category across multiple regions in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Applications are welcomed from individual organisations, or groups with an identified lead organisation. 

Grants may be for one or two-year projects, and all activities must be concluded and funds spent by 30 June 2022. The deadline for applications is 31 May.

In addition to redistributing VAT through the Tampon Tax Fund, last year the government began offering free sanitary products to all female secondary school pupils.